Goals from Mani Dieseruvwe and Tom Parkes sent Hartlepool United back into the top half of the National League table after a 2-0 home win over Aldershot Town.
There was no great shock that Kevin Phillips named an unchanged side for Saturday's contest. On the bench there were places in the match-day squad for three Academy starlets, Campbell Darcy, Alfie Steel and Max Storey, with Darcy and Steel coming on late on.
The first shot of the afternoon came on 14 minutes, when Laurent Tolaj was allowed time and room to turn but Pete Jameson saved well low to his right.
Pools made the breakthrough in the 18th minute thanks to Dieseruvwe’s 23rd goal of the season. The striker was needlessly tripped by Ryan Glover near the touchline and referee Stuart Morland had no hesitation pointing to the spot. The forward dispatched his penalty decisively into the keeper's top left corner.
There was little attacking threat from Pools though they did reach the away box in the 26th minute when a swift home attack ended with Tom Crawford shooting straight at Jordi van Stappershoef.
Jameson was the busier goalie and he needed to make a strong save on the half-hour with a powerful free-kick from Tolaj. The Shots striker tried his luck with his weaker right foot six minutes later, with his attempt flashing wide.
There was another great chance for an away equaliser on 47 minutes but Josh Stokes failed to make a clean connection and Jameson collected.
Stokes was then denied twice in quick succession by Jameson, the Pools stopper saving first to his right then his left.
The second half was almost all one-way traffic, though there was an opportunity on the counter-attack eight minutes from time when home substitute Chay Cooper curled his attempt wide of the keeper’s left stick.
Pools made it 2-0 four minutes from time with a first goal for Parkes in blue and white. That was after Callum Cooke missed two gilt-edged chances, but this time Parkes found the net with a glorious header from David Ferguson's corner.
Pools: Jameson, Stephenson, Parkes, Waterfall, Ferguson, Featherstone, Crawford, Grey, Cooke (Darcy 89), Agyemang (Cooper 72), Dieseruvwe (Steel 90)
Subs (not used): Dixon, Storey
Goals: Dieseruvwe (18), Parkes (86)
